THE BLUE SCAPULAR THE BLUE THE BLUE SCAPULAR Prayer Book to Accompany the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception THE BLUE SCAPULAR Prayer Book to Accompany the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculately Conceived, commissioned by the Marian Fathers and pained by Francis Smuglewicz (1745-1807). In 1782, this painting was placed in St. Vitus Church in Rome. THE BLUE SCAPULAR Prayer Book to Accompany the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception Editors Janusz Kumala, MIC Andrew R. Mączyński, MIC Licheń Stary 2021 Copyright © 2021 Centrum Formacji Maryjnej “Salvatoris Mather,” Licheń Stary, 2021 All world rights reserved. For texts from the English Edition of the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska “Divine Mercy in My Soul,” Copyright © 1987 Congregation of Marians Written and edited with the collaboration of: Michael B. Callea, MIC Anthony Gramlich, MIC S. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC Konstanty Osiński Translated from Polish: Marina Batiuk, Ewa St. Jean Proofreaders: David Came, Richard Drabik, MIC, Christine Kruszyna Page design: Front cover: “Woman of the Apocalypse” – Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculately Conceived. Painting by Janis Balabon, 2010. General House of the Marian Fathers in Rome, Italy. Imprimi potest Very Rev. Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC, Superior of the B.V.M., Mother of Mercy Province December 8, 2017 ISBN 978-1-59614-248-0 Published through the efforts of the General Promoter of the Marian Fathers’ Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M. Fourth amended edition ......................................................................................................... was admitted to the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary which entitles him/her to share spiritually in the life, prayers, and good works of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and was vested in the Blue Scapular which grants him/her participation in plenary indulgences and special graces approved by the Holy See. The name of the new member was inscribed in the Confraternity Register. The ceremony of admission and investiture took place at ......................................................................................................... and was performed by Rev. ............................................................................................... The Immaculate Conception by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), Museum Prado (Madrid, Spain). TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface .................................................... 11 History of the Congregation of Marian Fathers and of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M ............................................. 13 Brief History of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M ................... 13 Timeline of Marian Fathers ........................ 16 History of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception ............................. 17 History of the Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary ............................... 26 What is a scapular? ................................... 26 Types of scapulars ..................................... 27 Blue Scapular ........................................... 30 Theology of the Blue Scapular ................. 34 The Church’s approval ............................... 34 Biblical foundations ................................... 37 Mystical meaning ....................................... 40 Spirituality of the of Contemplative Nuns of the Immaculate Conception ........................ 41 Special graces ............................................ 42 Symbolism ................................................. 43 Role of the scapular .................................... 45 Availing Oneself of Graces Associated with the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception and Wearing the Blue Scapular .................................... 47 Responsibilities of people accepting the Blue Scapular and becoming members of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception ................................................ 48 Nature of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception. Its goals and spiritual benefits ....................................... 48 Indulgences attached to the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception and the Marian Fathers’ Confraternity .................... 53 Prayers to Our Lady Immaculately Conceived ................................................ 55 Daily offering of oneself to the Blessed Mother ...................................................... 56 Chaplet of Ten Evangelical Virtues ............. 56 Angelus ..................................................... 59 We Fly to Your Patronage ........................... 60 Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina) ................. 60 Prayer of St. Bernard (Memorare) ............... 60 Prayer to Mary according to St. Bernard of Clairvaux .................................................. 61 Prayer to Mary Immaculate for a life of holiness .................................................... 62 Prayer for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (by St. John Paul II) ................. 63 Litany of Loreto ......................................... 65 Litany of the Immaculate Conception ......... 68 Litany of the Mysteries of Mary’s life ........... 71 Litany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (by Blessed John Newman) ........................ 72 Novena before the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception ............................. 73 Prayers for the Deceased ......................... 81 Prayers for the Departed for every day of the week ................................................... 82 Prayer for all the Deceased ......................... 84 Prayer for the Deceased (by Blessed John Newman) ................................................... 85 Act of Heroic Love ...................................... 87 Act of Mercy for Souls in Purgatory ............ 87 Litany for the Souls in Purgatory ............... 88 Prayers for the Conversion of Sinners and for Divine Mercy upon the World ..... 93 Prayer for sinners ....................................... 93 Act of Oblation for Sinners ......................... 94 Prayer to The Divine Mercy ......................... 96 Prayer for Divine Mercy ............................... 97 Prayer for a Merciful Heart ......................... 98 Act of Trust in The Divine Mercy ................. 98 Litany of Praises of The Divine Mercy .......... 99 The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy ................ 102 Act of Entrusting the World to The Divine Mercy (by St. John Paul II) .......................... 103 Admission to the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception and Investiture with the Blue Scapular ............................ 104 Order of Admission and Investiture ............ 105 Introductory Rite ........................................ 105 Reading ..................................................... 107 Intercessions .............................................. 109 Prayer of Blessing ....................................... 111 Admission to the Confraternity .................. 112 Investiture with the Blue Scapular ................ 114 Concluding Rite ......................................... 116 Additional Explanations ............................. 117 Appendix ................................................... 121 Bibliography .............................................. 159 PREFACE The sign of the Blue Scapular tells us that God introduced us to the Marian road of life. We are His children who joined the community of the Church through the gate of holy Baptism so that we could make our pilgrimage to the glory of heaven together with all our brothers and sisters in faith. On that pilgrimage, Mary, whose life’s beauty inspires us to fulfill our calling to holiness, serves as our Mother and Guide. People who discover the beauty of living their lives with Mary, and who wish to imitate her, accept the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary in order to become like Christ. The Blue Scapular is an external symbol for students from the school of spirituality of the Immaculate Conception, whose inspiration and master was St. Stanislaus Papczyński, Founder of the Congregation of Marian Fathers. The mystery of the Immaculate Conception teaches us that God is the Source of salvation. We find the sense of our lives in God’s disinterested and gratuitous love. The radiance 11 of the Woman Full of Grace inspires us to strive for the beauty of our hearts so that they may always be the mystical temples of God, holy and without blemish. The very decision to accept the Blue Scapular is already a grace of God as well as being His invitation to become even more formed in the fulfillment of our Christian vocation so that we may live in friendship with God and people after the example of Mary, our Immaculate Mother. Our spiritual bond with Mary prompts us to build a fraternal community with people who also regard Mary as their Master of life. Therefore, may the membership in the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception become for us an additional incentive to love God and our neighbor even more faithfully. Fr. Janusz Kumala, MIC HISTORY OF thE CONGREGATION OF MARIAN FAthERS OF thE ImmACULATE CONCEptION OF thE MOST B.V.M. AND OF thE CONFRATERNITY OF thE ImmACULATE CONCEptION OF thE MOST B.V.M. Brief History of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M. The Congregation of Marian Fathers